The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued a notice to the federation, seeking assurances that President Asif Ali Zardari will voluntarily quit political activities in the presidency.
A five-member bench headed by LHC Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial heard a contempt of court petition against President Asif Ali Zardari for his political activities and possession of dual offices.
On February 6, the LHC welcomed the president’s decision to voluntarily quit the political office after the federation’s lawyer assured the bench in writing. During the proceedings, federation’s counsel Wasim Sajjad reassured the court that the presidency would not be used for any political activities.
The court asked whether or not the president would relinquish his political office on its orders. The bench directed Wasim Sajjad to come up with a clear stance of the presidency in this regard.
Sajjad contended that the president’s recent meetings in Lahore were not political, and that the media misinterpreted them in news reports.
Claiming that the president does not head any political party, Sajjad said that Zardari was the co-chairman of a faction of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), which was not the ruling party. He said the president was neither a king or a queen, and that he would have to contact the masses for his re-election as president.
“We need assurance that the president will remain apolitical,” Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh said. Sajjad replied that general elections were drawing close and political debate would take place. “These are political matters which should be resolved politically,” he said.
Justice Ijaz said, “What we are emphasising upon is that the president should be neutral.” Sajjad said the president was doing political activities in personal capacity. To which, the chief justice asked: “Is presiding over a meeting a personal matter?” The court adjourned the hearing until March 8.
